Mon Mothma's Significant Dance Scene Discussed by Tony Gilroy and Genevieve O'Reilly
Title: Dive Back Into the Height of Star Wars Rebellion with Andor Season 2's Explosive Three-Episode Arcs
Muscatine's three whirlwind episodes of Andor season two are now available on Disney+, taking viewers on a thrilling return to the early days of the Star Wars rebellion. During an exclusive interview with showrunner Tony Gilroy and star Genevieve O'Reilly, they delved into the final moments of the third episode and the innovation behind these gripping three-episode "movie" arcs.
Sabina Graves from io9 questioned Gilroy about the origin and evolution of this unique structure, stating: "The initial plan was for Andor to run five seasons, with each season covering a year—but that evolved into these three-episode 'movie' arcs. How much of the backstory was provided and developed as you went along?"
Gilroy shared his initial apprehensions about the idea, "At first, I thought, 'Oh my god, well... is it going to work? Is it going to have lots of exposition when we come back?' I didn't want to do that, and if you'd asked me in the beginning, I would have thought 'Oh, I'm going to have to write a huge bible of negative space of all the things that happen in between.'" However, Gilroy was pleasantly surprised by the streamlined process as the story unfolded: "As we went along, there were so few questions. The pickups, the beginning of the episodes where people were and what they were talking about, seemed to be so available that I never had to write a memo about it," he concluded.
O'Reilly, who portrays Mon Mothma, weighed in on the liberating empty space provided by this structure, stating it allowed her to find Mon in her formative years "...building the rebellion. I found her moment of letting loose in particular in episode three so cathartic." As the story unfolds over three days, O'Reilly was immersed in Mon's history, navigating the intricacies of family relationships and the looming threat from Luthen.
When discussing Mon's emotional climax on the dance floor, Gilroy highlighted the moment's dual impact: "I'm really pleased with the end of three. I'll say one other thing about Mon on the dance floor: it does another thing. It binds the audience to her because the only people in that room who know what's going on are you and her. Everybody else is partying, everybody else is dancing, but you know what she's into, and so that just creates what it does with the audience."
Andor is now streaming on Disney+. Intrigued? Stay tuned for updates on upcoming Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, the future of Doctor Who, and the latest developments in the DC Universe on film and TV.
- The thrilling three-episode arcs of Andor season two are now accessible on Disney+, immersing viewers in the early days of the Star Wars rebellion.
- In an exclusive interview, showrunner Tony Gilroy and star Genevieve O'Reilly discussed the innovative three-episode "movie" structure, initially intended for five seasons.
- Gilroy initially expressed concerns about the structure's feasibility, fearing excessive exposition, but found the process streamlined as the story progressed.
- Geneviere O'Reilly, who plays Mon Mothma, appreciated the empty space provided by this structure, aiding her in portraying Mon's formative years and the challenges she faced.
- Gilroy noted that the dance floor scene in episode three, where Mon lets loose, simultaneously deepens audience connection to Mon and binds them to her story.
- Gizmodo and io9 are great resources for updates on upcoming Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, Doctor Who, DC Universe releases, and technology trends in movies and television.
